Effect of Inspiratory Muscle Training During Pulmonary Rehabilitation on Balance in COPD Patients

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD is a preventable and treatable disease(GOLD, 2017). According to the WHO, COPD would be the third leading cause of death by 2030 (WHO, 2017). This disease is characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. The airflow limitation is usually progressive and associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lung to noxious particles or gases(GOLD, 2017). However, emerging data showed that COPD patients demonstrate important deficits in balance and control which associated to a high risk of fall ( Butcher et al, 2004 ; Smith et al, 2009 ; Beauchamp et al, 2009 ; Beauchamp et al, 2010). Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) has been shown to be an effective modality for COPD patients for improving the maximal inspiratory muscle strength, the dyspnea and health-related quality of life (GI COPD, 2016). However, the effect of inspiratory muscle training on balance is not studying. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of the inspiratory muscles training on balance in COPD patients.